If paying for college out of your own pocket is out of the question, yet you cannot qualify for many grants, you need to start looking for scholarships. If you are not the "academic" type, don't worry. Most students can find scholarships if they look hard enough. While many are academic in nature, you can also get scholarships for athletic ability, racial heritage, and even community service. The best thing about scholarships is that you do not have to pay them back, so start looking for the perfect scholarship today.

If you excel in athletics, you might be offered a scholarship in return for playing for a school's team. Keep in mind that college sports include sports like gymnastics and swimming, not just the sports that make national headlines. You may need to be flexible about your school choice if you wish to pursue an athletic scholarship.

Are you a minority or a female student? You will find that there are many scholarships you could receive because you are in an "underprivileged" group. Even if you are not actually underprivileged, your race or gender could be all that you need to qualify for the scholarship.

Who offers scholarships? One common source of scholarship money is the school you are attending. Academic and athletic scholarships are commonly offered by schools. They also sometimes offer scholarships to children of alumni, and they may have need-based scholarship programs for students who have great financial need. Some schools that need to balance their student ratios to include more minorities will offer minority scholarships, but schools are not the only places to look for scholarships.

Charitable organizations often offer scholarships to students who do a lot of community service. Also, they may offer scholarships to members or the children of members. Make yourself known in your community so you can learn about these opportunities.

Professional organizations also support further education by offering scholarships to students who are pursuing a line of study relating to the organization. For instance, the farm bureau may offer a scholarship to students who are looking to study agriculture. Corporations also offer scholarships in an attempt to make their public images better. Again, these often focus on a particular industry or a particular minority group.

Since there are so many scholarship opportunities out there, using a free online search is the best way to narrow down your possibilities. Be sure to contact the financial aid office at your school as well to learn about any opportunities you might have missed.



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